Adjustable lamp socket for lighting fixture



P. A. JONES March 28, 1961 ADJUSTABLE LAMP SOCKET FOR LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 51, 1957 5 w s m/ n m Q mm m fi mfi w A T 4 Q a 2 .w 5 5 j x 6 4 7/ 5 Jr g 8 7 4 w 5 p j 4 5 3T 4 2,977,461 3 ADJUSTABLE LAMP SOCKET non LIGHTING FIXTURE Preston A. Jones, San Rafael, 'Calif. 2229 4th St., Berkeley, Calif.), assignor, by. mesne assignments, .to said Jones and Wallace D. Runswick, Berkeley, Calif.

Filed May 31, 1957, Ser. No. 662,630

Claims. (Cl. 240-78) The present invention relates to an improved lighting fixtureembodying a controlled position lamp socket.

' In order to satisfy the innumerable different lighting requirements of home and industry there are produced and marketed a wide variety of electric lamps or light bulbs. In addition to the lamps or bulbs produced for special purposes, conventional bulbs are manufactured in a wide range of sizes or wattage ratings. Conven tional light bulbs of different ratings also differ in physical size, for reasons not herein relevant, so that a 100 watt bulb for example is much larger than a 25 watt bulb, the physical size increasing with the energy rating.

Normal lighting fixtures are adapted to receive any bulb of a physical size that will fit therein as all conventional lamp sockets are alike and commonly the consumer determines which lamp rating is most advantageous for the particular circumstances under which the lighting fixture is employed. Although this flexibility is highly'desirable its application in the case of well designed light fixtures is often attended by a loss of lighting efficiency owing to. the variation in physical size of the different lamps ernployed. Thus, anylighting fixture designed to produce maximum illumination from a lamp relies in part upon the proper placement of same therein and substitution of different sized lamps naturally varies the'actual position of the light source in the fixture. This may be illustrated by considering a lighting fixture including a refiector, for maximum light reflection can only occur with the light source in some predetermined position relative to the reflector and the use of a lamp of a rating and physical size other than that for which it is designed disposes, the light source in a displaced position relative to the reflector with a consequent decrease in the proportion of reflected light. This will be seen to materially reduce the illumination efficiency with a cons-f quent loss to the user, and similarly losses attend lamp size variations in other types of lighting fixtures.

"The present invention provides a universal lamp'fea-f ture for lighting fixtures whereby lamps of any desired rating may be properly positioned within the fixture to realize the full illuminating power thereof and without the losses formerly attendant lamp size variation. The present invention is quite uncomplicated in structure and operation so as'to be readily adapted to home and office in that low cost is realized and simple operation achieved. It'is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture having a controllably positioned lamp socket for optimum disposition of lamps of varying ratings. 1

I It is another object of the present invention .to provide a lamp socket having calibrated positioning means for optimum lamp placement.

It is a Ifurtherobject of the present invention to provide a lighting fixture having lamp socket mounting means for controlled socket disposition and carrying visual indicia related to lamp sizes and fixture configuration for alignment in the fixture, of lamps of varying sizes. Theinvention possesses other objects and features of a n Q advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the draw ing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as setforth in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: p

Figure l is a vertical sectional view taken in a central plane through one embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 2 is-a plan view of the embodiment of the invention of Figure 1. a

Figure 3 is an enlargement of a partial sectional view taken at 3-3 of Figure 1. a a

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view in elevation of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view taken at 55 of Figure 4.

Considering the structural details of one embodiment 1 of the invention as illustrated in Figures l-3 of the drawing and referring to these figures, the lighting fixture 11 therein depicted may include a base plate 12 adapted for mounting upon ,a wall or ceiling, for example, about an opening therein and having a cylindrical casing 13 afiixed thereto as by metal screws 14 threaded through the casing and punched tabs on the base plate. The casing 13 has an open lower or outer end 15 extending through a central opening in the plate 12 and a such end portion 15 may be provided with a. translucent diffuser, not shown,if desired, but in any event such end is adapted to permit passage of light therethrough. The upper or inner end of the cylinder 13 has an end wall 16 formed thereon with a central aperture 17 there: through. An additional housing or junction box 18 is atfixed to the inner cylinder end without the cylinder and communicating therewith through the cylinder aperture 17.

Within this somewhat conventional fixture construction there is mounted a lamp socket 21 by mounting means 22. As to the latter, a centrally apertured plate 23' is removably secured within thecasing 13' on the inner:

surface of the end wall thereof as by means of bolts mounting means 22 is disposed with a first slotted angle bracket 28 affixed beneath the casing end as by welding of one portion thereof to the plate 23. The angle bracketv 28 is formed as two portions of plates at right angles to each other and'the first portion is disposed on the plate:

23 to depend the other portion thereof axially of the. cylindrical casing adjacent the casing end opening 17.

This vertical or depending bracket portion is provided with a vertical slot 29 therethrough generally ,parallelto,

the casing axis. A second bracket or lamp holder- 31 having connected vertical and horizontal portions has a large opening'32 in the horizontal portion to accommo date the lamp socket 21- and a small aperture through the verticalportion thereof receiving a bolt 33 extending therefrom. This bolt 33 extends through the slot 29 in the first angle bracket 28, with a washer between the brackets, and a wing nut 34 on the bolt 33 tightens thef first angle bracket and socket holder together tofixithfe relation thereof. The vertical portions of" the angle; bracket 28 and socket holder 31 are disposed generally parallel in close proximity and the relative vertical relation thereof is controllably fixed by the bolt 33. Thus loosening of the wing nut 34 releases the socket holder 31 so that it may be manually positioned vertically by sliding the bolt 33 along the slot in the angle bracket 28 to appropriate position for a particular sized lamp inserted in the lamp socket 21. In the desired vertical socket and lamp position the wing nut 34 is tightened to fix this position. Note that the lamp socket 21 is provided with electrical leads 36 of sufficient length to accommodate displacement of the socket to desired position.

The foregoing controlled position mechanism in the lighting fixture provides a simply operated device for properly positioning a lamp socket within the fixture to produce a desired lighting effect with any size lamp. Maximum lighting efliciency may be obtained with different sized lamps by controllably positioning the lamp within the fixture so that same is disposed at design point for light emission in the particular fixture.

An additional embodiment of the in ention illustrated in Figures 4 and provides controlled lamp positioning in a lighting fixture 41 having a horizontally or laterally mounted lamp. This fixture includes a housing 42 and retainer 43 with a centrally located reflector 44 mounted on the housing end wall facing a lower housing opening 45 for reflecting light from a lamp therethrough, and it will be understood that if desired such opening may be normally covered with a translucent diffuser. In such a fixture a lamp socket 46 is mounted horizontally so that a lamp inserted therein extends in front of the reflector 44. Conventional lighting fixtures of this type accommodate only one size of lamp for the lamp should be disposed in particular relationship to the reflector, i.e., the light emissive portion should be centered with respect to the reflector. The use of any lamp of a wattage other than that prescribed for the fixture necessarily places the lamp off center as regards the reflector because of the variation in physical size of lamps with variation of power rating thereof.

The present invention provides controlled position mounting means 47 for the lamp socket 46 whereby the latter may be fixed in position to orient a lamp therein properly with respect to the reflector 44. These mounting means 47 include an elongated first plate 48 having a V-shaped rear end adapted to fit a corner of the housing and the plate extends horizontally therefrom toward the reflector parallel to the end wall of the housing. A second vertical plate 49 is attached to or formed integral with the first plate 48 extending in line with an angle edge of the rear of plate 48 to lie along one vertical wall 51 of the fixture housing 42. The second plate 49 is provided with a vertical slot 52 therein to receive the shank of a bolt 53 extending through the housing wall 51 and a wing nut 54 threaded thereon tightens the plate 49 against the housing. The mounting means 47 is thus mounted within the housing 41 with vertical redisposition possible and the head of the bolt 53 may be fixed to the outside of the housing where same is inaccessible as by reason of mounting the fixture within such as a ceiling aperture.

Motion of the mounting means at right angles to that described above, i.e., lateral or horizontal motion in the illustration, is provided by securing the lamp socket 46 to an angle bracket 56 that extends rearwardly from the bottom thereof and rests upon the first or horizontal plate 48. An elongated slot 57 is formed in the plate 48 directed radially of the reflector 44 and a bolt 58 extends therethrough with the head beneath the plate 48 and the shank extending through the angle bracket 56 into threaded engagement with a nut 59 fixed atop the angle bracket. This bolt 58 may have a slotted head, as a cap screw, for convenient manipulation thereof and with the bolt 58 loosened the socket 46 readily slides lr-ngitudinally of the plate slot 57 and thus radially of the reflector 44. Alongside the plate slot 57 on the lower surface of the plate 48 there are provided indices in the form of a scale 61 appropriately labelled marks adapted for use with the angle bracket 56 or lamp socket as at the bolt head slot or separate marker extending through the slot 57. These indices are determined for a particular size fixture and reflector position and type with markings directly in lamp bulb wattage so that with the lamp socket in position to register with a certain indication on the scale 61 a bulb of the wattage indicated when inserted in the socket will be radially positioned relative to the reflector that a maximum amount of light is reflected therefrom. The lamp socket 44 is provided with electrical leads 62 of sufiicient length to accommodate movement of the socket and with the lamp socket in desired lateral or radial disposition to properly position the lamp carried thereby it is only necessary to tighten the bolt 58 to fix the lamp socket in this desired position. Similarly, the entire mounting means 47 is vertically movable by loosening the wing nut 54 to slide the mounting means on the bolt 53 so as to place any lamp bulb a desired distance in front of the reflector 44 for maximum illumination. Vertical motion of the mounting means is not accompanied by pivoting of same as plates 48 and 49 fit a corner of the housing and are thus retained from other than vertical motion except when the wing nut 54 is entirely removed from the bolt 53 to entirely free the mounting means, as for removal thereof. In operation the scale 61 is employed to determined the proper socket position radially of the reflector for the chosen bulb size and a similar scale may be provided on the plate 49 adjacent the slot 52 therein for indicating desired vertical lamp socket disposition.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a housing having a light reflector therein facing a substantially open housing end, a lamp socket within said housing adapted to mount a lamp for energization thereof, a first element secured to said lamp socket and having a portion generally parallel to the plane of said open end and disposed intermediate said end and said reflector, a second element secured within said housing for controlled positioning in a direction generally normal to the open housing end and having a portion extending radially of said reflector, said first and second element portions engaging each other ir arallel sliding relation for controlled positioning of said lamp socket radially of said reflector, and means releasably clamping together said first and second elements in relected positions of sliding relation, said portion of said first element being positioned adjacent said socket on the side thereof adjacent said open end for ready access thereto and extending axially from said socket in a direction opposite to that of a lamp when in said socket.

2. A lighting fixture as claimed in claim 1 further defined by said second element including a slotted portion against a wall of said housing, and a bolt extending from said housing through the slot in said second element with a nut therein for clamping said first element against said housing in controlled position.

3. A lighting fixture as defined in claim 1 further defined by said second element including an angle cut plate fitting a housing corner normal to the housing walls and another plate normal to the first plate against a housing wall with a slot therein directed toward the open housing end, a bolt extending through the housing wall and through the plate slot, and means threaded on said bolt for clamping said mounting means against said housing in controlled position.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a housing having an open end and a reflector directed toward same, a lamp socket adapted to retain a lamp and disposed to extend said lamp radially in front of said reflector, a first member secured to said housing and extending toward said reflector from the side thereof with a slot therein radially of said reflector and indices along said slot identifying lamp sizes, a second member secured to said lamp socket and slidably engaging said first member along the slot therein and having a portion thereon for registering with selected ones of said indices, and means clamping together said first and second members to position a lamp corresponding in size to the registered index in position in front of said reflector for maximum light reflection therefrom.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a housing adapted to encompass a lamp and having side walls, an end wall and an opposed open end for light emission therefrom, a reflector mounted on said end wall, a lamp socket adapted to retain a lamp for energization thereof, and control position mounting means for said socket including a first operatively connected to one of said housing side walls,

angularly related portions of said brackets being disposed in overlying adjacent relationship parallel to said end wall and intermediate said socket and said open end, i one of said latter portions having an elongated slot therein, and a bolt extending through said slot and the other of said portions with a tightening nut.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 916,266 Buchanan Mar. 23, 1909 1,250,580 Harter Dec. 18, 1917 1,416,096 Kuehner May 16, 1922 1,575,245 Wurdack Mar. 2, 1926 1,709,804 Paiste Apr. 16, 1929 1,972,056 Saaf Aug. 28, 1934 

